A medical marijuana drug in development may actually aid in weight loss, says new research currently underway at the University of Buckingham in Buckinghamshire, England in partnership with GW Pharmaceuticals.

Approval of the nation's first weight loss drug in 13 years came by way of the FDA earlier this week with the authorization of Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc's Belviq.

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine suggests strong evidence exists to support skipping fad diets and gimmicks and opting instead for 'old-fashioned' approaches to sustainable weight loss.

Mushrooms are known for their nutritional value and culinary versatility. Now, there’s a new reason to buy these fabulous fungi: They may help prevent breast cancer.

Shiuan Chen, PhD, a professor of tumor cell biology at the City of Hope in Duarte, Calif., was among the first scientists to study how white button mushrooms offer protective benefits.

“Diet is a key consideration for prevention because it is something that everyone can control,” he says. “Our research shows that women may benefit from a balanced diet that includes about 3.5 ounces of mushrooms per day.”

He’s an actor, singer, songwriter and former model, but cuisine is the only area in which L.A. native Tyrese Gibson is a lightweight.

Having appeared earlier this year in Legion, the hunky action star is now filming Transformers 3, which will arrive in theaters next year.

Gibson’s sleek physique reflects a 50-pound weight loss—physical baggage he had piled on several years ago after letting himself go.

Now a gym rat at 31, he has traded burgers for sustainable seafood options like striped bass.

Photo: (CC) Randy Stewart, blog.stewtopia.com

Research shows that eating a healthy breakfast reduces our risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes, while also facilitating weight loss. We also know that kids who skip their morning meal lack energy, are more irritable, become fatigued and depressed, and fail to perform well in school. 

Put the emphasis on protein if you want to maintain muscle mass, curb hunger, reduce abdominal fat, and slow age-related bone and muscle loss, advises Marie Spano, a registered dietitian and sports nutritionist who currently serves as vice president of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 

Higher-protein diets “are associated with greater bone mass and fewer fractures when calcium intake is adequate,” she told attendees this week at the Institute of Food Technologists’ annual meeting. “In addition, replacing carbohydrates with protein can prevent obesity and obesity-relted conditions, such as type 2 diabetes.” 

As we grow older, the consequences of protein deficiency become more apparent. We all know seniors who have developed conditions like osteoarthritis and sarcopenia (degenerative loss of muscle mass). Eating a protein-rich diet will create a healthier population of older (and more agile) adults, which simultaneously lowers healthcare costs. 

Try these five high-protein, egg-based  recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner: 

1. Asparagus, Red Pepper and Potato Frittata (made with egg whites)
2. Southwestern Scramble
3. Sesame-Ginger Frittata with Broccoli and Shrimp (made with egg whites)
4. Egg and Vegetable Salad Sandwich
5. Tomato-Feta Frittata

If you're eating Special K and skim milk for breakfast, only to pig out on Häagen-Dazs at night, you might be fighting your body's natural metabolism pattern. A new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that we're built to consume high-fat breakfasts and low-fat dinners.

Scientists fed two groups of mice the same amount of calories each day — but they gave one group a fatty breakfast and a lean dinner, and the other a lean breakfast and a fatty dinner. The mice who had fatty food for breakfast had normal metabolism, but the mice that started their days with low-fat meals and ended them with high-fat meals showed symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The study shows that timing is everything, and that when you eat the food can be as important as how much you eat.

Many Americans eat like the unhealthy mice. They starve themselves in the morning – eating a low-fat muffin, if anything — and end the day with rich, fatty food. But eating fatty food, like eggs and breakfast meat, early in the day and ending the day with veggies and carbohydrates can help fight metabolic syndrome, a health problem afflicting 50 million Americans. Metabolic syndrome, according to the American Heart Association, increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. So fry up some eggs tomorrow morning — for your heart!

Isn't that liberating? I've always admired the traditional English Breakfast (hashbrowns, eggs, mushrooms, sausage, bacon, beans, and tomato — with black pudding for the bold) and now it might be the healthy thing to do, too! Well, maybe it's still a little over-the-top, but for healthy, high-fat breakfast recipe ideas, think about making our organic scrambled eggs with truffle oil and avocado or organic butternut squash pancakes.

If you’re trying to lose weight, you may be more successful if you partner with a family member or friend who has similar goals.

A study published in the Oct. 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that enrollment with a buddy in a comprehensive program enhanced weight loss among 344 African-American participants—but only if they attended sessions together.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ran the 2-year study to help participants achieve and maintain a 5%–10% weight loss. The program involved self-monitoring of food intake, physical activity, pedometer use, group sessions with weight and activity checks, and community-based field workshops (cooking demonstrations, gym visits).

After 24 months, those who enrolled in the program with a friend or family member lost more weight than those who entered the program alone.

For Your Organic Bookshelf: You: On a Diet

Ninety percent of Americans fail to meet the recommended daily guidelines for whole-grain consumption, which vary by gender and age.

 Whole grains include oatmeal, brown or wild rice, buckwheat, bulgur, whole-wheat cereal, whole-wheat pasta and quinoa. (Click here for a full list. Be sure to differentiate them from refined grains, and make organic choices.) 

“Start the day right with a bowl of whole-grain cereal, fat-free milk and fruit,” says Jackie Newgent, a registered dietitian and culinary consultant in New York City. 

“Americans need to close the whole-grains gap,” says Newgent, author of Big Green Cookbook: Hundreds of Planet-Pleasing Recipes and Tips for a Luscious, Low-Carbon Lifestyle. “Whole grains are rich in vitamins and minerals and are also loaded with fiber—a great tool for weight management because it fills you up and keeps you satisfied.” 

Whole-grain cereals are “familiar, satisfying, taste great and offer the utmost in convenience for busy consumers,” she adds.

“What you add to your cereal can elevate it to a real taste sensation and nutritional powerhouse.” (Saturday’s recipe for Mandarin Orange Cereal Bowl is a perfect example.)

 Whole grains help prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer, Newgent says, and studies show consumption is associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. 

Also by Jackie Newgent: The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook